🚀 go-pugleaf

drizzt (drizzt@cml.com) wrote:
: My original question as to how fast superman could run seems to have been 
: misunderstood because a few people wrote me suggesting that on the moon 
: or in outer space, he could run at the speed of light.  That would be 
: flying and not RUNNING.  I'm more concerned with Superman being able to 
: push off of the ground with a pair of Nike airs without falling down due 
: to inertia and how long he has to wait before taking each step because 
: gravity takes time to pull him back down from each step.  

Assuming Superman would control his upward movement, then the speed that 
Superman could run at and keep contact with the Earth would be escape 
velocity (which, if memory serves, is approximately 25,000 miles per 
hour).  My reasoning:  if Superman would run like Michael Jackson 
moonwalks, then each running "leap" (or forward movement) that occurs 
just under escape velocity would keep Superman in contact with Earth; any 
amount faster than that, and Superman would begin to leave Earth.

This assumes, of course, that Superman could find a route that is 
absolutely spherical with surfaces Superman can run on.  (Can Superman 
float?)

: On the other hand, if this speed IS fast enough so that his suit might 
: burn up or something, THEN all the stuff with fluid dynamics and etc are 
: relevant.  But I think his maximum speed won't reach that high.  

It would, but I believe there are materials that would survive the heat.  
(Running in cotton jeans would be out of the question, though.)

: Because I have a VERY limited knowledge of physics, I would like some 
: guesses from people as to how much friction there is between Superman's 
: shoes and the ground (asphalt maybe) and how high he will hop with x 
: amount of force from his legs.

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Vernon R.J. Schmid                  "Love is when someone else's needs 
#212 10139-117 Street                are more important than your own...."
Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T5K 2L3
               vschmid@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca